1967 Australian referendum (Aboriginals) facts for kids

1967 Australian Aboriginals Referendum
Question 2 Do you approve the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled— "An Act to alter the Constitution so as to omit certain words relating to the People of the Aboriginal Race in any State and so that Aboriginals are to be counted in reckoning the Population"?
Date	27 May 1967 (1967-05-27)
Quick facts for kids Results Votes  % Yes 5,183,113 90.77% No 527,007 9.23% Valid votes 5,710,120 98.42% Invalid or blank votes 91,464 1.58% Total votes 5,801,584 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 6,182,585 93.84%
Results by county Results by electorate. Results by state.   Yes     No

The 1967 Australian Referendum was a very important moment in Australia's history. On May 27, 1967, Australians voted on two changes to their country's rulebook, the Constitution. This article focuses on the second question, which was about Indigenous Australians.

Voters were asked if the Australian Parliament should have the power to make special laws for Indigenous Australians. They also voted on whether Indigenous Australians should be included in the official population counts. Before this, they were not fully counted for some important purposes. The changes were approved by a huge number of people across Australia.

What Was the 1967 Referendum?

This referendum asked Australians to change two parts of their Constitution. These changes aimed to give the national government more power. It would allow the government to create laws specifically for Indigenous Australians. It also meant that Indigenous Australians would be fully counted in the country's population. This was a big step towards recognizing Indigenous people as equal citizens.

Why Was This Referendum Needed?

For many years, Indigenous Australians faced unfair treatment. The Constitution, written in 1901, had rules that treated them differently. One rule said that Indigenous people should not be counted in the national population. This affected how many representatives each state had in Parliament. It also meant the national government had limited power to make laws for them.

Early Calls for Change

People started asking for changes to these rules a long time ago. As early as 1910, some groups wanted the national government to take more responsibility. They wanted the government to help improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. However, not much changed for many decades.

Growing Support for Aboriginal Rights

In the 1960s, the movement for Indigenous rights grew much stronger. Important events like the Yirrkala bark petitions in 1963 showed the unfair treatment of Indigenous people. The Gurindji strike also highlighted problems faced by Indigenous workers. These events made many Australians realize that change was needed.

Many people and groups, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, worked hard for the referendum. They used media and public talks to gather support. Leaders like Faith Bandler, Douglas Nicholls, and Burnum Burnum met with Prime Minister Harold Holt. They explained why these changes were so important. By 1967, the Australian Parliament fully agreed to put the changes to a vote.

Gordon Bryant (left), Prime Minister Harold Holt (third from left) and Bill Wentworth (right) meeting with FCAATSI representatives (from left to right) Faith Bandler, Douglas Nicholls, Burnum Burnum, and Winnie Branson.

What Did Voters Decide?

The question on the ballot paper asked voters to approve a law. This law would remove certain words from the Constitution. These words related to "the Aboriginal Race in any State." It also ensured that "Aboriginals are to be counted in reckoning the Population."

Changing the Constitution

The referendum proposed two main changes to the Constitution:

• Giving the Parliament power: Before 1967, the national Parliament could not make special laws for Indigenous Australians living in states. The change removed the words "other than the aboriginal race in any State" from a section of the Constitution. This gave the Parliament the power to make laws for all Indigenous people.
• Counting Indigenous people: Another part of the Constitution said that "aboriginal natives shall not be counted" in the population. This section was completely removed. This meant Indigenous Australians would be fully included in all population counts. This was important for how seats in Parliament were decided.

How Did Australia Vote?

The referendum was a huge success. Over 90% of Australians voted "Yes" to the changes. Every single state in Australia voted "Yes" by a majority. This showed very strong support from the Australian people. The changes officially became law on August 10, 1967.

What the Referendum Did NOT Do

Many people have some misunderstandings about what the 1967 referendum achieved. It was a very important event, but it did not do everything some people think.

A badge supporting the "Yes" vote, made around the time of the referendum.

Voting Rights for Aboriginal People

The referendum did not give Indigenous Australians the right to vote. Many Indigenous people could already vote in federal elections before 1967. This right was given to all Indigenous people in 1962. However, voting only became compulsory for them in 1983, just like for other Australians. Also, people living in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory could not vote in referendums until 1977.

Not About "Flora and Fauna" Laws

It is sometimes incorrectly said that the referendum overturned a "Flora and Fauna Act." This is not true. This idea might come from state laws that managed Indigenous heritage and culture. These laws were sometimes handled by departments that also dealt with plants and animals.

Counting People in the Census

The referendum ensured Indigenous Australians were counted in the official population for constitutional reasons. This meant their numbers would be used to decide things like how many seats each state had in Parliament. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics was already collecting information about Indigenous Australians before 1967. This information was just published separately. So, the change was very important symbolically. It showed that Indigenous people were fully part of the Australian population.

The Lasting Impact of the Referendum

The 1967 referendum was a powerful symbol of change. The huge "Yes" vote gave the national government a clear message. It showed that Australians wanted better policies for Indigenous people. While it took some time for new laws to appear, the referendum opened the door for many important changes.

A Symbol of Change

The referendum became a symbol for a time of great activism and change. It represented the growing demands for land rights. It also highlighted efforts to end unfair treatment, like the Freedom Rides. This symbolic meaning has sometimes led to confusion about its direct legal effects.

New Powers for the Federal Government

The main legal outcome was that the national Parliament gained the power to make special laws for Indigenous people. This was a big deal because national laws are stronger than state laws if they conflict. This meant the federal government could now work to end unfair state laws. However, the government did not use this new power much in the first five years after the vote.

Working Towards Land Rights

The benefits of the referendum started to become more visible in the 1970s. In 1972, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was set up in Canberra. This was to show frustration about the slow progress on land rights. This event helped put Indigenous affairs high on the political agenda. Soon after, the government started a special inquiry into land rights. This led to important laws like the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976. This law gave Indigenous people legal ownership of some traditional lands.

Using the New "Race Power"

The new power to make "special laws" was meant to help Indigenous Australians. For example, the government used it to create programs for housing, loans, and education. It also helped fund legal services for Indigenous people. However, there have been times when the use of this power has been debated. Some legal cases have shown that this power could also be used in ways that were not always seen as beneficial. This has led to ongoing discussions about how best to use this important constitutional power.

Challenges and Continued Efforts

After the referendum, both national and state governments shared responsibility for Indigenous affairs. This sometimes led to disagreements about who should pay for and manage these issues. Despite the referendum's success, unfair treatment continued in some areas. This led to a new generation of Indigenous activists. They focused on their rights as the First Peoples of Australia. They continued to push for sovereignty and land rights. The 1967 referendum remains a key moment in this ongoing journey.

See Also

• 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum
• Council for Aboriginal Rights
• History of Australia
• Politics of Australia
• Referendums in Australia
• Voting rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples